Southern Graves

Pvt. Henry Chaple survived Andersonville. His brother did not. Brothers Henry and Alfred Chaple were members of Company D of the New York Volunteer Regiment during the Civil War. They were both captured by the Confederate Army at Plymouth, North Carolina in April 1864 and sent to Andersonville, Georgia. There, a military prison designed to hold 10,000 POWs had just opened months before. By August of 1864, when Henry's brother Alfred died of diarrhea, the number of union soldier inmates was approximately 32,000. I'm not sure how, but Henry Chaple survived Andersonville. He died 15 April 1930 and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia -- where the "Yanks and Rebs rest together." See also >> My Journey to Visit the Brother that Did Not Survive .

Unfortunately, I could show you far too many photos from "forgotten cemeteries," the topic for the latest Graveyard Rabbit Carnival. To be fair, most of the cemeteries I come across can actually more accurately be described as containing forgotten individuals. This photo shows what the area surrounding a cemetery in my part of the country often looks like. It is more common to find a cemetery that was once on family land or attached to a church rather than a large perpetual care cemetery. Especially if you find yourself traveling in rural areas away from any sizable town. These cemeteries are not always abandoned, though. They are sometimes still in use. It's just that not every burial site within the cemetery is visited or taken care of. This is New Bethel Cemetery. It is located near Emerich in Dooly County, Georgia. Until yesterday, I had never heard of Emerich. It is on the map, however. Many parts of this cemetery are quite overgrown. There are many gr...

(From Orpington, England - 1755) Here lieth Mary, never was contrary To me nor her neighbours around her. Like Turtle and Dove we lived in love And I left her where I may find her. [Source: Grave Matters by E. R. Shushan]

Please go read Ruth Coker Burks' article I'm Stunned at the last2cu blog . It is about a 60 year search that resulted in a heart-breaking find. She's been searching for remnants of a family cemetery that she knew was destroyed decades ago. What she found is both amazing and sad. If you have any advice for her, please comment.

Bernice Ellars (13 Jan 1894 - 15 Jul 1905) was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Georgia. Her stone is a little different. The top of it looks somewhat like a pillow, with tassels hanging down on all four corners. For some reason it reminds me of a pulpit marker. I think I actually read about something similar on another blog, but I unfortunately cannot remember which one. By the way, Bernice's epitaph -- "And we wept that one so lovely Should have a life so brief." -- is a quote by William Cullen Bryant. It is from the poem "The Death of the Flowers." The last stanza: And then I think of one who in her youthful beauty died, The fair meek blossom that grew up and faded by my side. In the cold moist earth we laid her, when the forests cast the leaf, And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief: Yet not unmeet it was that one, like that young friend of ours, So gentle and so beautiful, should perish with the flower...

Mother Mrs. Hannah E. Howard Feb 18, 1833 Apr 17, 1897 Fitzgerald, GA Evergreen Cemetery Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia

I've created a new page for my wonderful visitors. I called it "Featured Articles," and it includes several articles I have written. While most were written for this blog, I also linked to a few on the Rose Hill Cemetery blog as well as the main Southern Graves site . All the pages for this blog are listed at the top on the right sidebar. Here is a direct link to the Featured Articles page .

I've always been just a wee bit jealous of people who lived in places that got a yearly snowfall. Not because I like the white stuff, but because I've wanted to take pictures at a cemetery under a blanket of snow. I think the images are beautiful. Yesterday I got my wish! Late Friday we received about 5 inches of snow. It was almost gone in 24 hours, but I managed to get to the cemetery when it was still well covered. I literally said "Thank-you, God" before I even got out of my car at the cemetery. The landscape was breathtakingly beautiful. Since Valentine's Day is all about love, and I love my cemeteries, I believe this was H is Valentine's Day gift to me. If you love cemeteries like me, then the following slideshow of some of the photos I took are my Valentine's Day gift to you. I hope you enjoy them.

(From Lincoln, Maine - 1800) Sacred to the Memory of Mr. Jared Bates who Died Aug. the 6th 1800. His Widow aged 24 who mourns as one who can be comforted lives at 7 Elm Street this village and possesses every qualification for a good wife. Is it just me, or do these words seem to be advertising the widow Bates is ready for another marriage? [Source: Grave Matters by E. R. Shushan]

The palm frond, shown through the wreath above, may be seen as a symbol of victory. This is how the Romans used them. Christians adapted them to symbolize an individual's triumph over death. In the instance above, I believe the wreath is another symbol for victory. Usually this would be attributed to the laurel wreath, also representing eternity and immortality. W. L. Julian Dec 31, 1864 Nov 13, 1907 Evergreen Cemetery Ben Hill County, Fitzgerald, Georgia (Photos © 2010-9 S. Lincecum) Following is a death notice for Mr. Julian, found in the 22 November 1907 Tifton Gazette (Georgia): Fitzgerald, Ga., November 14 -- Dr. W. L. Julian fell dead at Rogers' livery stable today. Dr. Julian was a highly respected citizen and worth a considerable amount of money. He quit practicing several years ago to look after his property. He was about sixty years of age, but appeared to be in very good health, except for the last few weeks he was very nervous. He is survived by a wife...

(From Lowestoft, England - 1770) In Memory of Charles Ward who died May 1770 aged 63 years A dutiful Son A loving Brother and An affectionate Husband This stone was not erected by Susan his Wife. She erected a stone to John Salter her second husband forgetting the affection of Charles Ward, her first Husband. I'm not even sure what to say about that! [Source: Grave Matters by E. R. Shushan]

Jerome H. Moss was born about September 1849 in Wisconsin. He fought in the Civil War with Company K, 16th Wisconsin Infantry. According to American Civil War Soldiers , Jerome enlisted as a private on 30 December 1863. He would have been about fourteen years old. The following quote is attributed to him: "I lied about my age to get in, but would have lied a thousand times to get out." 1 During his service, Jerome served as a drummer boy under General Sherman. 2 On 6 November 1894 in Fulton County, Illinois, Jerome married Helen Bessie Bartholomew. 3 They are together in the 1900 U.S. Federal census for Pierceton, Kosciusko County, Indiana. By 1910, Jerome and Helen had relocated to the "Shacktown" colony of Fitzgerald, Georgia. Jerome was the resident optician. Jerome H. Moss was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia. Notes: 1. "Evergreen Cemetery Tour Map and Guide," Fitzgerald Convention and Visitors...

Sergt. John C. Buckley was born 1 April 1842 in Fayette County, West Virginia. He served during the Civil War in Company G, West Virginia Infantry. John died 29 March 1913 and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Georgia. John C. Buckley was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for "Gallantry in the charge of the 'volunteer storming party'" at the Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi on 22 May 1863. The Medal of Honor dates back to 1861, and you may read about its history here . The version of the medal on John's grave is a hybrid of the original and later versions. The inverted, 5-pointed star contains laurel leaves mixed with oak clusters. This represents victory and strength. Surrounding the circled insignia were once 34 stars, equal to the number of stars on the U.S. flag in 1862. Now, "United States of America" is found there. In the center of the circle is a portrait of a helmeted "Goddess of War." Actions w...

Here are the most viewed posts over the last 30 days. - William was the Sunshine of His Home (Tombstone Tuesday) - No Ostentation Marked Her Tranquil Way (Tombstone Tuesday) - Fair Little Spirit, Rest Thee Now - Echo of an Infant Voice (Tombstone Tuesday) - In Case You Missed It -- December 2009 - Bloggers Best Friend Award for Me? I'm Tickled Pink! - Reviving an Old Post about Cemetery Critters (GYRabbit Carnival) - Churchyard Literature: A Short Essay on Epitaphs - Here Lies Mary, the Wife of John Ford (Today's Epitaph) - 3 Widowed Sisters Take Me from Macon, Georgia to Eufaula, Alabama